Are you the parent of a male child? If you are, you’ve likely heard of the Boy Scouts of America. The Boy Scouts of America is a large group of men and boys, both young and old, who participate in fun filled activities, which often have an unlimited number of benefits, such as leadership and community support. Team Mantra wants you to be able to consider whether this might be an appropriate, life-learning activity for your son.
Is it Right for My Child? As popular as the Boy Scouts of America are, not all young boys belong to this well-known organization. That may leave you wondering whether or not the Boys Scouts of America is right for you child. If this is something that you have asked yourself, you may want to take the time to examine the pros and cons of allowing your child to become a member of the Boy Scouts of America.
Pros of Being a Boy Scout
1. Lifelong Benefits- As for the pros or plus sides to allowing your child to become a Boy Scout member, you may take comfort in knowing that it can be a lifelong journey. There are three main Boy Scout divisions. These divisions include:
- Cub Scouting– designed for boys between the ages of seven and ten.
- Boy Scouting– designed for boys between the ages of eleven and eighteen.
- Venturing- designed for those between the ages of fourteen and twenty years of age.
Venturing Further Beyond- Even after twenty years of age, your child can volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America or apply to become an adult leader.
2. Valuable Life Lessons- The ability to participate in the Boy Scouts of America organization for years on end is something that can benefit your son in more ways than one. For instance, it can help to teach them the meaning of commitment. If your child signs up to become a Boy Scout, you should encourage them to continue with their membership and participation.
3. Close Relationships Bridged by Teamwork- Another one of the many pros or plus sides to allowing your child to join the Boy Scouts of America is the relationships they will be able to develop. As you likely already know, the Boy Scouts of America relies heavily on activities, including indoor and outdoor activities. Many of these activities, such as camping and sports, require teamwork. This teamwork is what can allow your child to form close relationships with other Boy Scout members. In fact, many Boy Scouts recall meeting some of their closest friends at Boy Scout events.
4. Rewards of Setting and Achieving Goals- As previously stated, there are three main Boy Scout divisions. Within these divisions of Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing, each division has a number of different membership levels. For instance, some of the levels for Cub Scouting include the Tiger Club, Bear Club, and the Webelos Club. The ability to move up within the ranks of the Boy Scouts, even at a young age, can help teach your child the importance of setting and achieving goals. The Boy Scouts of America rewards all participating members with merit badges, which your child can later prominently display on their Boy Scout uniform.
Con of Being a Boy Scout
Extensive Time Commitment– You and your child both have to commit a good amount of time to Boy Scouts. Although most parents will give up just about anything to help their child, there are many situations which make it difficult for parents to do so, such as work related issues. The good news is that the Boy Scouts community, especially on local levels, is a tight-knit group. This means that if you are unable to transport your child to a Boy Scout related function, another parent or adult leader would likely be more than happy to offer you assistance.
Is it Right for my Son? The above mentioned points are just a few of the many that you will want to take into consideration when trying to determine if the Boy Scouts of America is an organization that is right for your son. If you have any question, comments, or concerns, you may want to locate and approach your local Boy Scout leaders for additional information.
Team Mantra is here to work with organizations like the Boy Scouts to help their communities see what they have to offer. Click here to find out more.